Virgin Atlantic to launch transatlantic flights from Belfast
Virgin Atlantic will launch flights from Belfast to Orlando and from Glasgow to Las Vegas next year.
It will be the first time the airline has flown from Northern Ireland and the first time it has flown from Scotland to Vegas, although it already operates seasonal flights from Glasgow to Orlando.
Chief executive Craig Kreeger said: "It’s incredibly important to us to offer customers from all across the UK access to our long haul network during peak travel periods."
Both weekly flights will form part of Virgin Atlantic’s Joint Venture with Delta Air Lines, with the US carrier selling the flights under their codeshare agreement.
Customers will be able to use Delta’s services out of each airport to connect onwards in the US, such as from Orlando to Dallas, Texas and from Las Vegas to Seattle.
A Boeing 747-400 aircraft will operate the flights, which will operate on Thursdays.
The aircraft flying to both US destinations will be configured with 14 Upper Class seats, 66 Premium Economy seats and 375 seats in Economy.
The Belfast to Orlando route will operate in June and July, starting June 25, 2015. Seats will go on sale this week through Virgin Holidays and through Virgin Atlantic from July 25.
The flights from Glasgow to Vegas will operate in September and October, starting on September 10, 2015.
Seats will go on sale through Virgin Holidays this week and through the airline from mid-October.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025